Silver Lake Schools

Wolfley places second at national track event

Wolfley places second at national track event

State javelin experience propels him to work harder

By Kelsey Priddy

(Friday, Oct. 2, 2015)

Since his freshman year, Senior Logan Wolfley has been a notable athlete at Silver Lake, excelling in many sports including football and basketball. In the midst of his sophomore year, he added track to his list and discovered a passion for the sport.
That year, he competed in shot put, discus, and triple jump. Last year as a junior, he made a decision that would change his athletic career: he added the javelin.
That decision led to the following accolades: regional champion with a 28-foot personal record throw of 183-02 and a new school record, and fifth-place medalist at state with a throw of 169-00.
Wolfley, along with Senior Zach Redmon and 2015 Graduate Brennan Damman, broke the school record as a javelin team with 429-04.
After his post-season success, Wolfley decided he wanted to focus more on track and take initiative to improve his skills. That’s when he joined the NEK (North East Kansas) Track Club this summer. He participated in shot put, discus, hammer throw, and javelin.
“The NEK is a team that participates in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) track meets. I decided to join because I talked to the guy that ran it, and I felt like it would be beneficial for me to join,” he said.
With this organization, Wolfley was able to compete at AAU and USATF (USA Track & Field) Jr. Olympics. Among the talented competition, he focused on his goal, applied his skills, and did exceptionally well.
According to Wolfley, at the AAU Jr. Olympics, there were 15,000 athletes ages 7-17 participating. He competed against 68 athletes and captured an impressive second place.
At the USATF Jr. Olympics, he competed against 48 athletes and placed 13th.
“I felt very happy and accomplished with how I finished. I felt that all the hard work finally paid off,” he said.
This summer, Wolfley said he practiced on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Mondays and Wednesdays were at Seaman High School and Tuesdays and Thursdays were at Wamego High School.
He said Tuesdays and Thursdays practices were only about and hour and a half, while the other days were anywhere from two hours to over three.
“Every day (that) I didn’t practice with the team, I practiced by myself either at the school or at home,” he explained.
Wolfley traveled to different states to partake in AAU and USATF track meets. He explained that without his parents’ support, he wouldn’t have been able to experience such beneficial opportunities.“Over the summer I competed in Marysville; Olathe; St. Louis, Missouri; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jacksonville, Florida; and Norfolk, Virginia. My biggest supporters are by far my parents. Without their support, I wouldn’t have been able to travel to the places that we went to. They also spent a lot of their evenings and weekends helping me practice, and coming to all my meets,” Wolfley said.
Of the four events he competed in during the summer, Wolfley explained why javelin is his favorite.
“I started javelin because my dad persuaded me to try it out. I like it because it is unlike and other event. A lot of people think it’s just throwing a spear, but it’s actually very technical and requires the whole body for a good throw,” he said.
The dedication that goes into his preparation includes exercising and working on technique. Many people don’t realize the small details that can impact a throw. Wolfley explained how this is the hardest part about track.
“The hardest thing about track would have to be consistency. A lot of people don’t understand how technical throwing actually is. It takes a lot of reps and a lot of practice to get down,” Wolfley described.
He shared his goals for the future.
“I want to compete in track at college. But before that, I want to win state in javelin, place in discus, and at least make it to state in shot put. I want to re-break my personal best in javelin and also get the school record in shot put and discus. Also break the 3A state track meet record in javelin,” he said.
Wolfley said that weightlifting, stretches, drills, and off-season practicing will help him reach his goals and get better. By continuing to work hard and stay committed, he hopes to keep track in his future plans.
“I am planning on doing indoor track this winter to work on my technique and better prepare myself for this upcoming track season, and then compete in college,” Wolfley said.